Does Atkins Nutritionals have a response to this?

[Emily-D]

This study seems very biased to me.

Study: Atkins Diet May Bring Side Effects

[Susiecarbojunkie]

It was either in DANDR or in protein Power where it was mentioned that ketones are used for fuel by the body andwere actually preferred fuel for the brain and heart.

In my personal experience, I get fewer headaches when I am in ketosis

I guess if you want to call healthier weight, fewer gastric problems, better blood profiles, etc. BAD side effects to the diet...oh well

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

Of course I have a response...Use common sense when these types of stories hit the press.

The "Obesity expert" is someone who is not familiar with the fundamentals and science behind the Atkins Nutritional Approach, which makes me question his expertise.

An expert would know and understand all aspects of obesity and its treatment. The Atkins Nutritional Approach is a viable option for treating excess weight/obesity, diabetes, heart disease etc... If he kept an open mind and took the time to examine the principles of the 4 phases of the plan, he may not have made most of the statements that were made.

A knowledgeable healthcare professional/researcher would be able to help people avoid symptoms of "headaches, muscle weakness and either diarrhea or constipation". These are not necessary symptoms that add to the plan. They are very easily avoided and prevented.

The researcher explains that these complaints are due to lack of fruit, vegetables and whole grains. I do not even think he knows that there are 4 phases of the plan and that fruit, vegetables and whole grains are part of Atkins WOE.

"Those side effects may be signs that the eating plan isn't healthy in the long run" Headaches and muscle weakness are symptons of burning excess glycogen stores (short term effects not long term). Fiber supplementation should help to avoid constipation. Long term health measures can be measured by monitoring cholesterol levels and other individual health parameters.


He has also admitted that studies do show that the weight lost on Atkins is fat and not water, isn't that a good thing? My opinion is that if you are overweight and you are burning fat that you are achieving your goal.

Here is something for you to think about, if everyone waited for research to tell them that it is ok to do Atkins, no one or very few (as studies are out supporting Atkins for the last 3 years) would be on the plan. It is estimated that 20 million people are doing Atkins, currently.

When Atkins is used as a healthy lifestyle and WOE, it helps people not only lose tremendous amounts of weight but improves cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes, PCOS and many other healthy conditions. This is supported by the posts on this board and other websites, success stories listed in Dr. Atkins books..

Dr. Atkins stood firm in his beliefs and improved the quality-of-life of many, many people despite over forty years of criticism from "experts".

Please understand that as a registered dietitan and certified diabetes educator, I too criticised Dr. Atkins until I started working with him and saw the benefits of the program for myself.

[nobimbo]

Articles about this study were all over the news the other day, and it was funny to see the different slants that were taken from the same piece of research. Here is a great article from a low-carb blog about it:

"Spiceless Atkins diet 'bores you thinner'"
"Atkins diet may be dangerous, say scientists"
"Atkins Diet Works, But for How Long?"
"Low fat diets 'as good as Atkins'"
"Long-Term Safety of Low Carb Diet Questioned"
"ATKINS IS SO DULL, IT WORKS"

At least 50 articles in the news yesterday and today about the article by Arne Astrup et al in the Sept 4 Lancet. The researchers looked at three studies published last year which compared the Atkins version of low-carb diet to a calorie-restricted diet high in carbohydrates.

Whenever I read a study or article, the first place I look is the bottom to find out who is doing the research and what the funding sources are. In this case, the Lancet article says, ""A A [the principle author] is medical adviser for Weight Watchers, Denmark. The Department of Human Nutrition receives research funding from over 50 Danish and international food companies. Otherwise, we declare no conflict of interest."

So, do we think it's possible that this guy has some *bias* going into this exercise? I must say I especially love the last sentence in the above paragraph. Sorta like "I eat fish, beef, poultry, and ham. Otherwise, I'm really a vegetarian."

There are really two things to look at here - both the original article and the way the media has interpreted it.

To begin with, Astrup makes the typical mistake of emphasis in speaking about the Atkins diet: "Whereas the Atkins diet permits no more than 5-10% of calorie intake from carbohydrate.." In a footnote, he admits that this is only for the first two weeks of the diet, but he goes on to make many of his remarks based on this two-week "Induction" period.

A synopsis of the main points in the article:

- The three studies together included 248 subjects. 3/4 of them were in studies for only 6 months, and the other group was in for a year. So these studies are clearly NOT going to tell the tale - there are still very many unanswered questions.

- When people lose weight on low-carb diets, they lose fat. (Duh. I know it's hard to believe, but low-carbers have been told they're losing 50 or 60 lbs of WATER. )

- The authors SPECULATED that the reason people eat less on a low-carb diet is a combination of restriction in variety of food choices, and increased satiety. As far as I know, if you bother to ASK people how they feel eating low-carb, the successful ones are not bored from lack of food choices, which I will talk about in my next blog. They WILL tell you that they aren't as hungry. There are probably other effects as well.

(I talk about how NOT boring low-carb is to me in this blog entry : What The Anti-Low-Carb Folks Don't Get #3)

- The authors were surprised that cardiovascular risk factors such as HDL and triglycerides are improved on a low-carb diet. There is literature on this dating back at least a decade. Many popular diets of the last decade (Zone, Protein Power) are based on this research.

- The author notes that people on low-carb diets complained more often of constipation and headaches. First of all, there is absolutely no reason for a low-carb diet to be low-fiber. I eat a diet that is quite high in fiber (25-30 grams per day). As far as headaches go, the author did not cite at what point headaches were most frequent. As far as I'm aware, there are some people who experience headaches in the first week or two if they are eating a very low-carb diet. Atkins suggests raising the carb level temporarily if reactions such as this occur. Those who avoid the lowest levels of carbs usually avoid these reactions altogether.

- The author suggests that these symptoms and other less frequent ones are caused by "reduced intake of fruit, vegetables, and whole-grain bread and cereals" and goes on to say that "restricted intake of these foods is not commensurable with long-term nutritional adequacy, and might pose a second-line increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer."

Well. As I discuss in What the Anti-Low-Carb Folks Don't Get - #1, people who are informed about low carb eating and are doing it "for life", such as myself, eat a lot of vegetables and some fruit. The question becomes whether my body is suffering a grain shortage. (Since I have celiac disease, gluten-containing grains are out for me in any case.) As far as I can tell, everything that's "good for you" in grains can be easily gotten from other sources - they are not at all necessary for a healthy diet.

-The authors go on to say that there is no evidence against eating low-carb diets in the short term "as long as weight loss is occurring", but that "future research that assesses a broader spectrum of risk factors of thromboatherosclerot ic disease might eventually warn against such diets." It is apparently this sentence, based again purely on speculation, that has the writers of headlines all in a tizzy. (Along with the previous implication that low-carbers lose weight out of sheer boredom.)

- I certainly agree that "there is an urgent need for longer and larger studies" in this area.

- In the recommendations section, it says, "Patients who want to try these diets should be told that, although safety cannot be guaranteed, they seem to be safe for short-term use (up to 6 months) as long as weight loss occurs. Scientifically, the most solid current recommendation for people who want to lose weight and keep weight off is a permanent switch to a diet reduced in calories and fat in combination with physical activity, which will also reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes and re-infarction among high risk individuals." Two studies are cited which show nothing of the kind. If that's what the authors are calling "scientific proof", I am quite unimpressed.

http://turtleway.modblog.com/?show=b...blog_id=277174

[Magicsmom]

Please explain how diarrhea can be prevented. I have this issue on low-carb plans, and have had some success with acidophilus, but it's not 100%.

TIA

Terry

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

Fiber and bioflavanoids/rutin can help.

[LowCarbFG]

Originally posted by Atkins_Nutritionist
Headaches and muscle weakness are symptons of burning excess glycogen stores (short term effects not long term).

Can you elaborate on this part? I have been having muscle weakness lately and was wondering if I needed to up my carbs or fat or something?

Thanks!

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

Sure, muscle weakness can be due to a few things.

It may be due to depleting glycogen stores or burning stored glucose or due to loss of electroltyes.

The best way to avoid this is by consuming lots of water, ie 100 oz. and by taking a multi-vitamin. You may need extra calcium/magnesium. Try eating small frequent meals/snacks throughout the day.

If this persists, you may want to speak with a doctor. Please let us know if this works for you.

[AussieRozzie]

I have been having muscle weakness lately

Muscle weakness is also a classic symptom of potassium depletion. Do you take a potassium supplement? Using a potassium salt replacement such as No Salt works well, but tablets can be taken too. If you choose to take tablets, always take them with food, as they can cause stomach irritation.

And I agree that if you still have muscle weakness after adding potassium, or you are already supplementing, see your doctor.